Abstract: Considering the context of Le Morte Darthur, we may find it difficult to believe
that Thomas Malory could have been much of a feminist; and yet, he manages to
construct some of the most powerful feminine literary characters of his time. Arrested on
charges of rape, Malory spent years in and out of jail, gaining himself a reputation as a
scoundrel. His magnum opus, based in the older written tales of Arthurian legend, would
seem to provide Malory’s fictional chauvinists a safe haven for their shenanigans.
Characters like Sirs Lancelot and Palomides have free rein through Arthur’s Camelot –
until, of course, the fateful battle on Salisbury Plain. However, Malory gives his female
characters ample room to manipulate circumstances – this is especially true of characters
like Queen Guinevere, who enjoys a powerful central role, making her a key to
understanding the text itself.
The thesis explores the importance of Guinevere, focusing both on the power
dynamic and on the Queen’s position as an intrinsic figure in understanding Malory’s
structural technique. In Malory’s construction, the narrative structure of Le Morte
Darthur reflects the shifting power structure of Camelot and the Round Table. Arthur’s
supremacy is superficial only; once Guinevere appears as a strong, capable woman, she
becomes the power behind the throne and the force that moves the story. Since her
siphoning off of power undercuts Arthur’s role as king, her position produces a fatal
instability in Camelot’s dynamic. Guinevere’s rise means that Arthur’s fall is inevitable.